Air
Attack 310
Manufacturer
North American-Rockwell, Columbus, Ohio.
Original Owner
U.S. Navy and Marine Corp, 1968-1993. The OV-10A was
used as a counter-insurgency aircraft and close air support military ground
forces.
Acquired by CDF
In 1993, CDF acquired 15 OV-10As from the Department of
Defense. Of those 15, 13 have been converted for use as air attack planes for
the 2000 Fire Season. The remaining four are in the process of being converted.
The OV-10As are replacing the Cessna O-2As that CDF had been using as the air
attack platform. The OV-10As are newer, larger, and faster, providing a larger
field of vision for the crew and are more maneuverable than the older
O-2As.
Air Crew
Pilot and Air Tactical Group
Supervisor
Mission
CDF uses the OV-10As as command and control of aircraft on
wild land fire. The crew provides tactical coordination with the incident
commander on the ground, providing information on the movement and spread of the
fire. The OV-10A crew then directs CDF's air tanker and helicopter pilots on
where to make their retardant and water drops.
Specifications
Gross Weight: 10,500 Pounds
Maximum
Speed: 250 MPH
Cruise Speed: 230 MPH
Range: 1,000 Miles
Endurance: 5
Hours
Wing Span: 40 Feet
Engines: 2 Garrett T-76 Turbines, 715 HPR Each